Ohio Swaminarayan temple attack: police see no hate motive as temple raises funds for security
Bricks shattered a window at Shree Swaminarayan Vadtal Dham in Richmond Heights, Ohio, on 2 October while dozens of worshippers were inside.
- Religion News Service
Bricks shattered a window at Shree Swaminarayan Vadtal Dham in Richmond Heights, Ohio, on 2 October while dozens of worshippers were inside. No one was hurt.
Police say the suspect has been identified but not arrested, and Police Chief Calvin Williams said there is "no evidence" of a religious motive and called it vandalism by "a person with mental health issues". CoHNA and HAF dispute that framing.
Key data
GoFundMe target of US$25,000 for fencing, cameras and lighting. The temple draws about 2,000 people at festivals.
Why it matters
It is another US temple incident just before Navarātri, as diaspora groups press for hate-crime treatment.
GK: did you know?
Sahajanand Swami consecrated the Lakṣmīnārāyaṇa temple at Vadtal in Gujarat in 1824.
